Sao Paulo: Brazil will build five submarines in collaboration with France to protect its vast off shore oil reserves in the Amazon region, a media report said on Sunday.

The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already approved the submarine project prepared by the Defence Ministry.

Brazil will also build a nuclear submarine as part of the project, it said.

The Ministry also plans to set up of a joint general staff comprising personnel from the Army, Navy and the Air Force to protect the region. The proposal, which is already cleared by the President, will now be submitted to the Congress.

The government has invested nearly USD 30 billion to boost its defence industry.

According to International treaties you are not supposed to sell nuclear powered subs. So, I think its unlikely French will sell SSNs to Brazil, unless Brazil makes one of its own nuclear power reactor optimized for the sub like India did.

PS: on the other hand you can lease it though (India did with Charlie class submarine)

According to International treaties you are not supposed to sell nuclear powered subs. So, I think its unlikely French will sell SSNs to Brazil, unless Brazil makes one of its own nuclear power reactor optimized for the sub like India did.

Scorpene can be fitted with a nuclear reactor. It is designed to hold a reactor within its hull. Rumour has it that the Brazilians have developed their own naval reactor and want to install it on a Scorpene as a TD.

Brasilia: Brazil's first nuclear submarine jointly built by Brazil and France would be launched in 2021, Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said.

Jobim told the country's Parliament on Thursday that though the Brazilian nuclear-driven submarine would be equipped with conventional weapons, it would considerably enhance the deterrent force of the Brazilian Navy.

Under the agreement signed by the two countries, France was to provide the core nuclear technologies that would help Brazil improve its research and development and production capabilities, Jobim added.